The free health insurance cover of Rs 500,000 would benefit senior citizens from around 450,000 families. | Representative image
The government’s decision to provide healthcare coverage to all people aged 70 and above will bring much-needed relief to millions of families and is a major milestone in providing essential healthcare services to the elderly, industry players said on Thursday.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved health coverage for all persons aged 70 years and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), irrespective of their income, benefiting around six crore senior citizens.
The free health insurance cover of Rs 500,000 would benefit senior citizens from around 4.5 million families.
Reacting to the announcement, Abhay Soi, president of healthcare industry association NATHEALTH, said, “We believe this initiative will bring much-needed relief to millions of families and strengthen India’s position as a leader in inclusive healthcare.”
The benefit package should be tailored to the segment of the population to cover the entire spectrum of care, he said, adding that NATHEALTH is ready to support the government with the implementation.
Similarly, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Organisation of India (OPPI) Director General Anil Matai described the initiative as “a significant milestone in providing essential healthcare services to the elderly.”
“This is certainly a crucial step towards fostering a more inclusive healthcare ecosystem and OPPI welcomes the move,” he added.
Matai further said that while this initiative marks a significant step forward in healthcare accessibility, OPPI takes this opportunity to emphasize the importance of including the “underprivileged” – those who are currently excluded from government and private health insurance schemes – as part of AB PM-JAY.
“These individuals represent a segment that must be incorporated into the scope of financial protection,” he said.
Welcoming the government’s move, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) President Pavan Choudary said the decision to extend healthcare coverage to all citizens above the age of 70 years, irrespective of their income, according to AB PM-JAY, is commendable.
“MTaI, which has consistently advocated for this inclusion, recognises this move as a historic step towards equitable healthcare for India’s ageing population,” he added.
Paras Health Group COO Santy Sajan described the government’s move as a much-needed step to ensure that India’s elderly population has access to essential healthcare services.
“As India’s senior population grows, so does the demand for geriatric care, and this initiative is a timely response to that need. By providing comprehensive health coverage to our senior citizens, the scheme not only eases the financial burden on families but also reinforces the importance of accessible healthcare for all age groups,” he added.
Similarly, FICCI (Health Services) President Harsh Mahajan said, “As our elderly population grows, so does the need for specialized geriatric care, and this expansion will enable more families to access essential services without the burden of overwhelming medical expenses.”
However, he said, expanding the beneficiary base by such a significant margin presents real-life challenges, particularly with regard to the viability of the plan for small and medium-sized hospitals.
“These institutions often operate on tight margins, and the added pressure of accommodating a larger patient base, especially older citizens who require more intensive care, could strain their resources,” Mahajan said.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: September 12, 2024 | 5:00 p.m. IS
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